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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Andy Hunter

Mohamed Salah in need of centre stage return for Anfield’s grand show

Mohamed Salah playing for Liverpool at Chelsea
Mohamed Salah has scored 16 goals in 17 appearances for Liverpool against Manchester United. Photograph: Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images

It has been a while, but Mohamed Salah was back playing the starring role last week with two goals in Casablanca that sealed Egypt’s place at the 2026 World Cup. The main man stepping on to centre stage yet again. Liverpool need him to stay there.

There are numerous reasons why inconsistent, unconvincing performances have been the common thread running through Liverpool’s start to their title defence, whether they produced seven straight victories or, before Manchester United’s visit to Anfield on Sunday, three consecutive defeats. The upheaval from so many summer changes, Arne Slot’s search for his best XI, Diogo Jota’s death; Salah has felt the effect of them all during his uncharacteristically subdued opening to the campaign.

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